On February 24, we reported that Assassin’s Creed Shadows had leaked online, with numerous individuals streaming the game a month ahead of its official release date on March 20. Over the weekend, the GamingLeaksandRumours subreddit highlighted now-deleted social media posts showcasing physical copies of the game being sold before the intended street date, alongside multiple streams of the unreleased title appearing on platforms like Twitch.

In response to the leak, Ubisoft, the developer and publisher, has issued a statement on the Assassin's Creed subreddit. They confirmed their awareness of the situation and urged players to refrain from spoiling the experience for others. "We are aware players have accessed Assassin’s Creed Shadows ahead of its official release. The development team is still working on patches to prepare the experience for launch, and any footage shared online does not represent the final quality of the game," Ubisoft stated.

They further emphasized the negative impact of leaks, saying, "Leaks are unfortunate and can diminish the excitement for players. We kindly ask you not to spoil the experience for others. Thank you to our community for already taking steps to protect everyone from spoilers. Stay in the shadows, avoid the spoilers, and keep an eye on our channel for more official surprises in the coming weeks! March 20 will be here soon!"

These leaks represent another challenge for Ubisoft and the Assassin's Creed franchise. The development team has previously had to apologize for using a historical recreation group's flag without permission and for inaccuracies in Assassin's Creed Shadows' depictions of Japan. Originally set for a November release, Assassin's Creed Shadows was postponed first to February 14 and then to the current release date of March 20. Given Ubisoft's recent struggles with lacklustre sales and investor backlash, the company is counting on this title to perform well.